BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OR-030-2013-15
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Johnson
(541) 864-9282
BLM Announces Public Use Restrictions
Vale, Oregon – The Bureau of Land Management, Vale District Office, announced today that public use
restrictions will take effect immediately. These restrictions apply to all public lands: administered by the
Vale District BLM and project lands under the jurisdiction of Bureau of Reclamation within Malheur and
Jordan Resource Areas; all BLM and project managed lands in the Vale District within one statute mile
from the Snake River, beginning at Farewell Bend Oregon downstream to Fisher Gulch in Asotin County
Washington; and BLM lands located within one statute mile of the Wallowa River and the Grande Ronde
River beginning at Minam, Oregon downstream to the confluence of the Snake River.
To ensure continued enjoyment of public lands, visitors must be aware of Public Use Restrictions as they
travel to lands administered by the BLM Vale District this summer. According to Carolyn Chad, Vale
Associate District Manager, the restrictions are due to extremely dry fuels and high temperatures. “We
constantly evaluate conditions in the district, and we don’t like to put unnecessary restrictions on public
land users, but the indicators say it’s time to take extra precautions.” The public is also reminded to
monitor vehicle undercarriage and exhaust systems for vegetation build-up and to ensure trailer wheel
bearings are properly maintained.
The following restrictions are specified in the Fire Prevention Order:
1. You must not build, maintain or attend a campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal briquette fire,
except within the existing metal fire rings located at the following recreation sites; Spring
Recreation Site and Carters Landing in Baker County and Chukkar Park in Malheur County.
NOTE: Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters are permitted. When used outside of
developed recreation sites, they must be used within an area at least ten (10) feet in diameter
that is barren or clear of all flammable materials.
2. You must not smoke outside of a vehicle, trailer, or building, except within areas barren of all
flammable materials for at least a 6-foot diameter, or aboard boats on rivers and lakes.
3. You must not possess, discharge, or use any type of fireworks or other pyrotechnic device, to
include exploding targets, on public lands at any time.
4. You must not operate a chainsaw.
5. You must not park your vehicle or operate any type of internal combustion engine (generators,
weed eaters, etc.) in an area that is not clear of all flammable material.
6. You must not operate a motorized vehicle outside of existing roads and ways. This prohibits cross
country travel until this order is rescinded.
7. You must not operate an automobile, pickup, truck, or any other motorized equipment that is wider
than 50 inches or has a dry weight of 800 pounds or more, on public lands without a shovel not
less than 26 inches in overall length, with a blade not less than 8 inches wide, and a container
with at least one gallon of water, or a fully charged 2.5-pound fire extinguisher.
-more-
Individuals who violate restrictions on public lands not only endanger themselves and others, but they may
be subject to penalties including fines and imprisonment.
For more information, or to report wildfires, call the Vale BLM Dispatch Center at 541-473-6295 or toll
free at 1-800-982-0287. Additional information about the Vale District can be found by visiting the district
website at www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale.
About the BLM: The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This
land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM
also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is
to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future
generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared
with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S.
economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
-BLM-